Most Poles against army involvement in Russia-Ukraine war

New research by Statistics Poland (CBOS) found that 74.8% of Poles oppose the army of Poland or any other NATO country getting involved in the conflict, with only 10.2% favouring such support.

French President Emmanuel Macron said at February’s Ukraine summit that Europe should not rule out sending its troops to Ukraine. This was met with backlash in many European capitals, followed by many leaders confirming that they did not intend to join the war by military participation.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski announced after last week’s NATO meeting in Brussels that a NATO mission would be established in Ukraine, clarifying that does not mean the Alliance will join the conflict.

“It only means that we will now be able to use the Alliance’s coordinating, training and planning capabilities to support Ukraine in a more coordinated way,” Sikorski said.

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg insists that “NATO allies are providing unprecedented support to Ukraine, (…) but there are no plans for NATO combat troops on the ground in Ukraine.”

Tougher NATO stance

According to the poll, nearly 40% of Poles would like NATO to take a tougher stance on Russia for its aggression towards Ukraine.

Yet, while 39% of Poles find NATO’s actions regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine “too cautious,” almost as many (37%) believe the Alliance to be responding appropriately to the situation, the poll shows.

Only 14% of the poll’s respondents think NATO is overreacting to the conflict, while 10% had no clear opinion.

Poland has been a NATO member since 1999, and the alliance enjoys very high popularity among the Polish people, with over 90% supporting its membership.

According to CBOS, Polish popular support reached a record high of 94% in March 2022, the first month after Russia launched its war with Ukraine.

Poland has received millions of Ukrainian refugees and is among the top donors of aid to Ukraine, according to economic research think tank Kiel Institute.

The Polish people are more divided about Ukraine joining NATO immediately, as in last year’s poll by IBRiS, almost half (47.7%) of the respondents opposed such a scenario, with 40% supporting it.

Stoltenberg reiterated that Ukraine will become a member sooner or later, clarifying that “to become a member amid a war is not on the agenda.”

(Aleksandra Krzysztoszek | Euractiv.pl)

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